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k a My Retirement & New Leadership at AoPS
rrusczyk   1571
N Mar 26, 2025 by SmartGroot
I write today to announce my retirement as CEO from Art of Problem Solving. When I founded AoPS 22 years ago, I never imagined that we would reach so many students and families, or that we would find so many channels through which we discover, inspire, and train the great problem solvers of the next generation. I am very proud of all we have accomplished and I’m thankful for the many supporters who provided inspiration and encouragement along the way. I'm particularly grateful to all of the wonderful members of the AoPS Community!

I’m delighted to introduce our new leaders - Ben Kornell and Andrew Sutherland. Ben has extensive experience in education and edtech prior to joining AoPS as my successor as CEO, including starting like I did as a classroom teacher. He has a deep understanding of the value of our work because he’s an AoPS parent! Meanwhile, Andrew and I have common roots as founders of education companies; he launched Quizlet at age 15! His journey from founder to MIT to technology and product leader as our Chief Product Officer traces a pathway many of our students will follow in the years to come.

Thank you again for your support for Art of Problem Solving and we look forward to working with millions more wonderful problem solvers in the years to come.

And special thanks to all of the amazing AoPS team members who have helped build AoPS. We’ve come a long way from here:IMAGE
1571 replies
rrusczyk
Mar 24, 2025
SmartGroot
Mar 26, 2025
k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/list]
Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
A number theory problem from the British Math Olympiad
Rainbow1971   12
N 39 minutes ago by ektorasmiliotis
Source: British Math Olympiad, 2006/2007, round 1, problem 6
I am a little surprised to find that I am (so far) unable to solve this little problem:

[quote]Let $n$ be an integer. Show that, if $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then it is a perfect square.[/quote]

I set $k := \sqrt{1+12n^2}$. If $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then $k (=\sqrt{1+12n^2})$ is at least rational, so that $1 + 12n^2$ must be a perfect square then. Using Conway's topograph method, I have found out that the smallest non-negative pairs $(n, k)$ for which this happens are $(0,1), (2,7), (28,97)$ and $(390, 1351)$, and that, for every such pair $(n,k)$, the "next" such pair can be calculated as
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
7 & 2 \\
24 & 7 
\end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}
n \\
k 
\end{bmatrix}
.$$The eigenvalues of that matrix are irrational, however, so that any calculation which uses powers of that matrix is a little cumbersome. There must be an easier way, but I cannot find it. Can you?

Thank you.




12 replies
Rainbow1971
Yesterday at 8:39 PM
ektorasmiliotis
39 minutes ago
A number theory about divisors which no one fully solved at the contest
nAalniaOMliO   22
N 42 minutes ago by nAalniaOMliO
Source: Belarusian national olympiad 2024
Let's call a pair of positive integers $(k,n)$ interesting if $n$ is composite and for every divisor $d<n$ of $n$ at least one of $d-k$ and $d+k$ is also a divisor of $n$
Find the number of interesting pairs $(k,n)$ with $k \leq 100$
M. Karpuk
22 replies
+1 w
nAalniaOMliO
Jul 24, 2024
nAalniaOMliO
42 minutes ago
D1018 : Can you do that ?
Dattier   1
N an hour ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
We can find $A,B,C$, such that $\gcd(A,B)=\gcd(C,A)=\gcd(A,2)=1$ and $$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (C^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2=0 $$.

For example :

$C=20$
$A=47650065401584409637777147310342834508082136874940478469495402430677786194142956609253842997905945723173497630499054266092849839$

$B=238877301561986449355077953728734922992395532218802882582141073061059783672634737309722816649187007910722185635031285098751698$

Can you find $A,B,C$ such that $A>3$ is prime, $C,B \in (\mathbb Z/A\mathbb Z)^*$ with $o(C)=(A-1)/2$ and $$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (C^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2=0 $$?
1 reply
Dattier
Mar 24, 2025
Dattier
an hour ago
Nordic 2025 P3
anirbanbz   8
N an hour ago by Primeniyazidayi
Source: Nordic 2025
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with orthocenter $H$ and circumcenter $O$. Let $E$ and $F$ be points on the line segments $AC$ and $AB$ respectively such that $AEHF$ is a parallelogram. Prove that $\vert OE \vert = \vert OF \vert$.
8 replies
anirbanbz
Mar 25, 2025
Primeniyazidayi
an hour ago
f( - f (x) - f (y))= 1 -x - y , in Zxz
parmenides51   6
N 2 hours ago by Chikara
Source: 2020 Dutch IMO TST 3.3
Find all functions $f: Z \to Z$ that satisfy $$f(-f (x) - f (y))= 1 -x - y$$for all $x, y \in Z$
6 replies
parmenides51
Nov 22, 2020
Chikara
2 hours ago
Hard limits
Snoop76   2
N 2 hours ago by maths_enthusiast_0001
$a_n$ and $b_n$ satisfies the following recursion formulas: $a_{0}=1, $ $b_{0}=1$, $ a_{n+1}=a_{n}+b_{n}$$ $ and $ $$ b_{n+1}=(2n+3)b_{n}+a_{n}$. Find $ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{a_n}{(2n-1)!!}$ $ $ and $ $ $\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{b_n}{(2n+1)!!}.$
2 replies
Snoop76
Mar 25, 2025
maths_enthusiast_0001
2 hours ago
2025 Caucasus MO Seniors P2
BR1F1SZ   3
N 3 hours ago by X.Luser
Source: Caucasus MO
Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let $B_1$ and $B_2$ be points on segment $AC$ symmetric with respect to the midpoint of $AC$. Let $\gamma_A$ denote the circle passing through $B_1$ and tangent to line $AB$ at $A$. Similarly, let $\gamma_C$ denote the circle passing through $B_1$ and tangent to line $BC$ at $C$. Let the circles $\gamma_A$ and $\gamma_C$ intersect again at point $B'$ ($B' \neq B_1$). Prove that $\angle ABB' = \angle CBB_2$.
3 replies
BR1F1SZ
Mar 26, 2025
X.Luser
3 hours ago
IMO Shortlist 2010 - Problem G1
Amir Hossein   130
N 3 hours ago by LeYohan
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with $D, E, F$ the feet of the altitudes lying on $BC, CA, AB$ respectively. One of the intersection points of the line $EF$ and the circumcircle is $P.$ The lines $BP$ and $DF$ meet at point $Q.$ Prove that $AP = AQ.$

Proposed by Christopher Bradley, United Kingdom
130 replies
Amir Hossein
Jul 17, 2011
LeYohan
3 hours ago
CGMO6: Airline companies and cities
v_Enhance   13
N 3 hours ago by Marcus_Zhang
Source: 2012 China Girl's Mathematical Olympiad
There are $n$ cities, $2$ airline companies in a country. Between any two cities, there is exactly one $2$-way flight connecting them which is operated by one of the two companies. A female mathematician plans a travel route, so that it starts and ends at the same city, passes through at least two other cities, and each city in the route is visited once. She finds out that wherever she starts and whatever route she chooses, she must take flights of both companies. Find the maximum value of $n$.
13 replies
v_Enhance
Aug 13, 2012
Marcus_Zhang
3 hours ago
nice problem
hanzo.ei   0
3 hours ago
Source: I forgot
Let triangle $ABC$ be inscribed in the circumcircle $(O)$ and circumscribed about the incircle $(I)$, with $AB < AC$. The incircle $(I)$ touches the sides $BC$, $CA$, and $AB$ at $D$, $E$, and $F$, respectively. A line through $I$, perpendicular to $AI$, intersects $BC$, $CA$, and $AB$ at $X$, $Y$, and $Z$, respectively. The line $AI$ meets $(O)$ at $M$ (distinct from $A$). The circumcircle of triangle $AYZ$ intersects $(O)$ at $N$ (distinct from $A$). Let $P$ be the midpoint of the arc $BAC$ of $(O)$. The line $AI$ cuts segments $DF$ and $DE$ at $K$ and $L$, respectively, and the tangents to the circle $(DKL)$ at $K$ and $L$ intersect at $T$. Prove that $AT \perp BC$.
0 replies
hanzo.ei
3 hours ago
0 replies
Find a given number of divisors of ab
proglote   9
N 3 hours ago by zuat.e
Source: Brazil MO 2013, problem #2
Arnaldo and Bernaldo play the following game: given a fixed finite set of positive integers $A$ known by both players, Arnaldo picks a number $a \in A$ but doesn't tell it to anyone. Bernaldo thens pick an arbitrary positive integer $b$ (not necessarily in $A$). Then Arnaldo tells the number of divisors of $ab$. Show that Bernaldo can choose $b$ in a way that he can find out the number $a$ chosen by Arnaldo.
9 replies
proglote
Oct 24, 2013
zuat.e
3 hours ago
2025 TST 22
EthanWYX2009   1
N 4 hours ago by hukilau17
Source: 2025 TST 22
Let \( A \) be a set of 2025 positive real numbers. For a subset \( T \subseteq A \), define \( M_T \) as the median of \( T \) when all elements of \( T \) are arranged in increasing order, with the convention that \( M_\emptyset = 0 \). Define
\[
P(A) = \sum_{\substack{T \subseteq A \\ |T| \text{ odd}}} M_T, \quad Q(A) = \sum_{\substack{T \subseteq A \\ |T| \text{ even}}} M_T.
\]Find the smallest real number \( C \) such that for any set \( A \) of 2025 positive real numbers, the following inequality holds:
\[
P(A) - Q(A) \leq C \cdot \max(A),
\]where \(\max(A)\) denotes the largest element in \( A \).
1 reply
EthanWYX2009
Today at 2:50 PM
hukilau17
4 hours ago
Deriving Van der Waerden Theorem
Didier2   0
4 hours ago
Source: Khamovniki 2023-2024 (group 10-1)
Suppose we have already proved that for any coloring of $\Large \mathbb{N}$ in $r$ colors, there exists an arithmetic progression of size $k$. How can we derive Van der Waerden's theorem for $W(r, k)$ from this?
0 replies
Didier2
4 hours ago
0 replies
Not so classic orthocenter problem
m4thbl3nd3r   6
N 4 hours ago by maths_enthusiast_0001
Source: own?
Let $O$ be circumcenter of a non-isosceles triangle $ABC$ and $H$ be a point in the interior of $\triangle ABC$. Let $E,F$ be foots of perpendicular lines from $H$ to $AC,AB$. Suppose that $BCEF$ is cyclic and $M$ is the circumcenter of $BCEF$, $HM\cap AB=K,AO\cap BE=T$. Prove that $KT$ bisects $EF$
6 replies
m4thbl3nd3r
Yesterday at 4:59 PM
maths_enthusiast_0001
4 hours ago
IMO Shortlist 2010 - Problem G6
Amir Hossein   11
N Dec 25, 2024 by Autistic_Turk
The vertices $X, Y , Z$ of an equilateral triangle $XYZ$ lie respectively on the sides $BC, CA, AB$ of an acute-angled triangle $ABC.$ Prove that the incenter of triangle $ABC$ lies inside triangle $XYZ.$

Proposed by Nikolay Beluhov, Bulgaria
11 replies
Amir Hossein
Jul 17, 2011
Autistic_Turk
Dec 25, 2024
IMO Shortlist 2010 - Problem G6
G H J
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Amir Hossein
5452 posts
#1 • 5 Y
Y by TFIRSTMGMEDALIST, nobodyknowswhoIam, Adventure10, Autistic_Turk, and 1 other user
The vertices $X, Y , Z$ of an equilateral triangle $XYZ$ lie respectively on the sides $BC, CA, AB$ of an acute-angled triangle $ABC.$ Prove that the incenter of triangle $ABC$ lies inside triangle $XYZ.$

Proposed by Nikolay Beluhov, Bulgaria
Z K Y
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Vinoth
33 posts
#2 • 5 Y
Y by Amir Hossein, TFIRSTMGMEDALIST, Adventure10, Mango247, Autistic_Turk
I can't think of a Euclidean way of doing it, but I can outline a way of killing it quickly with co-ordinates:

Let $Z$ be the origin, let $XY=YZ=XZ=1$, say $BC$ is the $x$-axis, say $\angle XZB = \theta$; then one can work out the equation of $XZ$ in terms of $\theta$. It clearly suffices to prove that the incentre $I$ and $Y$ lie on the same side of the line $XZ$. Then calculate the gradient of $XB$, which gives the gradient of $IB$ (using say, the $\tan 2\theta$ formula). Similarly calculate the gradient of $YC$, which gives the gradient of $IC$. Now we know the equations of $IB$ and $IC$, so solve for the co-ordinates of $I$. Finally, check that $I$ and $Y$ lie on the same side of $XZ$.

I can post the calculations if anyone is interested..
Z K Y
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KittyOK
349 posts
#3 • 5 Y
Y by Amir Hossein, oty, Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
Can you post the calculations please? ( In your original post, I think there must be some typo: you say $Z$ the origin and $BC$ x-axis, but $BC$ does not pass through $Z$. )
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vanu1996
607 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Ashutoshmaths, Adventure10
Due to miquel theorem we have the circumcircles of $BXZ,CXY,AZY$ passes through a common point namely $M$,notice that if the bisector of $B$ meet the circumcircle of $BXZ$ at $F$ then $FZ=FX$,so $F,Y$ lies perpendicular bisector of $ZX$,but $B$ is acute so $\angle ZFX>60$,similar analysis with other two triangles, then we get $I$ must be inside the triangle $XYZ$.
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estoyanovvd
114 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
vanu1996 wrote:
... so $\angle ZFX>60$,similar analysis with other two triangles, then we get $I$ must be inside the triangle $XYZ$.
Why?
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leader
339 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Trigonometry Another not so creative approach but can be done withouth much problems. I will only explain what are the cases to be dealt with and what to use.
Denote $d(P,l)$ distance of $P$ from line $l$
Let $XY=YZ=ZX=a$
Clearly if the bisector of $\angle A$ cuts $ZY$ at $D$ we need $d(D,BC)>d(D,AB)$ now we fix $X,Y,Z,A$ and find the maximal $k$ for which $d(D,BC)>k$ and prove that $k\ge d(D,AB)=d(D,AC)$. To do this try to minimize the angle $\angle (DX,BC)$ from both sides. When minimizing it to one side say $\angle BXD$ consider the cases $\angle BZX\ge 90$(this one is easy), $\angle BZX<90$ and $\angle AZD\ge 90$(also not hard) and when both $\angle BZX,\angle AZD$ are acute.
For the last case you will need to express $k,d(D,AB)$ in termes of $90-\angle DZA=x$ and $a$ and $r=DZ$ now you get some inequality that you need for $tg x$ but for this you will need that $sin \angle AZD\le sin \angle AZD/sin \angle AYD=r/(a-r)$.
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mathcool2009
352 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Quidditch, Adventure10
Warning: This is a terrible solution.

Abuse of Notation. The term ``segment'' will always denote a line segment (as opposed to a circular segment).

Note. Given a line $\ell$, define its argument to be the angle between $\ell$ and the $x$-axis, starting from the $x$-axis and going counterclockwise. Arguments are always in the range $[0, 180^{\circ})$.

Let $I$ be the incenter and let $\omega$ be the incircle of triangle $ABC$. We will use the points $X,Y,Z$ and circle $\omega$ to try to locate $A,B,C$.

Claim 1. Note that $X,Y,Z$ each lie on the boundary of triangle $ABC$. Since $\omega$ lies within triangle $ABC$, we have that $X,Y,Z$ lie outside or on the boundary of $\omega$. Furthermore, if $\omega$ intersects line $XY$, all of the intersection points must lie within segment $XY$. Otherwise, part of $\omega$ would lie outside triangle $ABC$, contradiction.

Claim 2. Let $D,E,F$ be the tangency points of $\omega$ with sides $BC,CA,AB$ respectively. Suppose none of the lines $XY,YZ,ZX$ intersect $\omega$. If $X$ lies on segment $CD$, then it is impossible to find $Z$ on segment $AB$ such that line $XZ$ does not intersect $\omega$. Similarly, if $X$ lies on segment $BD$, then it is impossible to find $Y$ on segment $AC$ such that line $XY$ does not intersect $\omega$. Thus we have a contradiction. We conclude that at least one of the lines $XY, YZ, ZX$ must intersect $\omega$.

We return to the main problem. Assume for the sake of contradiction that $I$ lies outside triangle $XYZ$; our goal is now to show that either $ABC$ cannot be acute, $\omega$ cannot be the incircle of triangle $ABC$, or $X,Y,Z$ cannot be contained within segments $BC,CA,AB$ respectively.

We can assume without loss of generality that $I, X$ are on opposite sides of line $YZ$. Furthermore, we can assume that line $YZ$ is ``horizontal'' and $X,I$ are ``below'' and ``above'' line $YZ$ respectively. (See Figure 1.)

[asy]
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pen dotstyle = black; /* point style */ 
real xmin = -12.928819800000007, xmax = 39.76706740000004, ymin = -19.4182868, ymax = 7.799332199999999;  /* image dimensions */

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dot((9.92,-1.78),dotstyle); 
label("$I$", (10.037052800000014,-1.4449952), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((4.883420800000009,-6.0188436),dotstyle); 
label("$Y$", (5.012261600000009,-5.6967416), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((15.061844000000018,-6.244315),dotstyle); 
label("$Z$", (15.19068480000002,-5.922213), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((9.777368439773172,-14.946352361668911),linewidth(3.pt) + dotstyle); 
label("$X$", (9.908212000000013,-14.7478078), NE * labelscalefactor); 
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[/asy]
Figure 1. $I,X$ are on opposite sides of line $YZ$.

We see that if segment $YZ$ does not intersect $\omega$, we must have line $YZ$ does not intersect $\omega$, so line $YZ$ must be ``below'' $\omega$. This means that segments $ZX,XY$ must not intersect $\omega$, contradicting Claim 2. Thus we must have that segment $YZ$ intersects $\omega$.

We see that there are two tangents from $X$ to $\omega$; line $BC$ must be one of these tangents. Let $X_1, X_2$ be the intersections of the two tangents with $\omega$.

Case 1. $\omega$ does not intersect lines $XY, XZ$.

We have that $\omega$ is contained within the smaller region $\mathcal{R}$ of the plane bounded by rays $XY, XZ$. Thus the rays $XX_1, XX_2$ must also be contained within $\mathcal{R}$; thus line $BC$ intersects $\mathcal{R}$. However, line $BC$ does not intersect triangle $XYZ$, contradiction.

Case 2. $\omega$ intersects line $XY$ but does not intersect line $XZ$. (See Figure 2.)

[asy]
 /* Geogebra to Asymptote conversion, documentation at artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki, go to User:Azjps/geogebra */
import graph; size(10cm); 
real labelscalefactor = 0.5; /* changes label-to-point distance */
pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); /* default pen style */ 
pen dotstyle = black; /* point style */ 
real xmin = -12.928819800000007, xmax = 39.76706740000004, ymin = -19.4182868, ymax = 7.799332199999999;  /* image dimensions */

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label("$I$", (10.037052800000014,-1.4449952), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((4.207006600000009,-2.1536196),dotstyle); 
label("$Y$", (4.3358474000000085,-1.8315176), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((16.70456420000002,-2.1214094),dotstyle); 
label("$Z$", (16.83340500000002,-1.7993074), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((10.48368025146099,-12.960716866859293),linewidth(3.pt) + dotstyle); 
label("$X$", (10.616836400000015,-12.7829856), NE * labelscalefactor); 
clip((xmin,ymin)--(xmin,ymax)--(xmax,ymax)--(xmax,ymin)--cycle); 
 /* end of picture */
[/asy]
Figure 2. $\omega$ intersects line $XY$ but does not intersect line $XZ$.

Let $P,Q$ be the intersection points of line $XY$ with $\omega$. (We could possibly have $P = Q$.)

Let $t_y, t_z$ be the rays from $X$ tangent to $\omega$ such that $t_y$ is outside $\mathcal{R}$ and $t_z$ is inside $\mathcal{R}$. By the above reasoning, we cannot have $t_z$ coincide with line $BC$, so we must have that $t_y$ coincides with line $BC$.

Now one of the tangent lines from $Y$ to $\omega$ must be line $AC$; let this tangent line be $u$. Then the intersection of $u$ and $t_y$ must be point $C$, and we can determine $\angle BCA$ by looking at the angle between $u$ and $t_y$.

Sub-case 2.1. $u$, $t_y$ are tangent to the same arc $\overarc{PQ}$ of $\omega$.
[asy]
 /* Geogebra to Asymptote conversion, documentation at artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki, go to User:Azjps/geogebra */
import graph; size(11cm); 
real labelscalefactor = 0.5; /* changes label-to-point distance */
pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); /* default pen style */ 
pen dotstyle = black; /* point style */ 
real xmin = -0.7191574814425151, xmax = 24.134336132381687, ymin = -12.285790672877546, ymax = 0.6819027906836906;  /* image dimensions */

 /* draw figures */
draw(circle((9.92,-1.78), 5.360485052679468)); 
draw((4.434862052742311,-1.9326727164537993)--(16.185425538842992,-1.947699012471831)); 
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label("$Y$", (4.494967236814436,-1.782409756273485), NW * labelscalefactor); 
dot((16.185425538842992,-1.947699012471831),dotstyle); 
label("$Z$", (16.245530722915117,-1.7974360522915165), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((10.297130641716253,-12.11647235220784),linewidth(3.pt) + dotstyle); 
label("$X$", (10.355222683846746,-12.030343640571008), NE * labelscalefactor); 
label("$t_y$", (2.5265224584523023,-0.09946460225395042), NE * labelscalefactor); 
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label("$P$", (6.959279783771613,-6.109983009466574), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((4.574048444430357,-2.1744641498317665),linewidth(3.pt) + dotstyle); 
label("$Q$", (4.630203900976721,-2.0829356766341163), SE * labelscalefactor); 
clip((xmin,ymin)--(xmin,ymax)--(xmax,ymax)--(xmax,ymin)--cycle); 
 /* end of picture */
[/asy]

Note that the horizontal and vertical lines through $C$ are completely contained within angle $BCA$. This is a contradiction.

Sub-case 2.2. $u$, $t_y$ are tangent to different arcs $\overarc{PQ}$ of $\omega$.
[asy]
 /* Geogebra to Asymptote conversion, documentation at artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki, go to User:Azjps/geogebra */
import graph; size(10cm); 
real labelscalefactor = 0.5; /* changes label-to-point distance */
pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); /* default pen style */ 
pen dotstyle = black; /* point style */ 
real xmin = -0.7191574814425151, xmax = 24.134336132381687, ymin = -12.285790672877546, ymax = 0.6819027906836906;  /* image dimensions */

 /* draw figures */
draw(circle((9.92,-1.78), 5.360485052679468)); 
draw((4.434862052742311,-1.9326727164537993)--(16.185425538842992,-1.947699012471831)); 
draw((16.185425538842992,-1.947699012471831)--(10.297130641716253,-12.11647235220784)); 
draw((10.297130641716253,-12.11647235220784)--(4.434862052742311,-1.9326727164537993)); 
draw((xmin, -1.5220791046650244*xmin + 3.5565750355544212)--(xmax, -1.5220791046650244*xmax + 3.5565750355544212)); /* line */
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label("$Y$", (4.494967236814436,-1.782409756273485), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((16.185425538842992,-1.947699012471831),dotstyle); 
label("$Z$", (16.245530722915117,-1.7974360522915165), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((10.297130641716253,-12.11647235220784),linewidth(3.pt) + dotstyle); 
label("$X$", (10.355222683846746,-12.030343640571008), NE * labelscalefactor); 
label("$t_y$", (2.5265224584523023,-0.09946460225395042), NE * labelscalefactor); 
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[/asy]

We can do a few things to decrease $\angle BCA$. We can dilate triangle $XYZ$ with respect to $X$ until $Y,Z,I$ are collinear; this will decrease $\angle BCA$. Afterwards, we can shrink triangle $XYZ$ with respect to $Y$ until $Z$ lies on $\omega$. Now we wish to show that in the new diagram, $\angle BCA \ge 90^{\circ}$; this will give us the desired contradiction.

[asy]
 /* Geogebra to Asymptote conversion, documentation at artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki, go to User:Azjps/geogebra */
import graph; size(10cm); 
real labelscalefactor = 0.5; /* changes label-to-point distance */
pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); /* default pen style */ 
pen dotstyle = black; /* point style */ 
real xmin = -0.7191574814425151, xmax = 24.134336132381687, ymin = -12.285790672877546, ymax = 0.6819027906836906;  /* image dimensions */

 /* draw figures */
draw(circle((9.92,-1.78), 5.360485052679468)); 
draw((4.194441316453806,-1.7974360522915165)--(15.283847777761098,-1.782409756273485)); 
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label("$Z$", (15.343952961833224,-1.6321467960931695), NE * labelscalefactor); 
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label("$X$", (9.814276027197609,-11.309081431705494), NE * labelscalefactor); 
label("$t_y$", (2.5866276425244283,-0.09946460225395042), NE * labelscalefactor); 
label("$u$", (4.585125012922626,-0.08443830623591886), NE * labelscalefactor); 
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label("$P$", (6.703832751465076,-5.929667457250195), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((4.610181019221642,-2.5152702845660646),linewidth(3.pt) + dotstyle); 
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 /* end of picture */
[/asy]

We will use Cartesian coordinates. Assume that the radius of $\omega$ equals 1. Let $I = (0,0), Z = (1,0), Y = (-x, 0)$ for some $x \ge 1$. Since $XY$ needs to intersect $\omega$, we have \[1 \le x \le \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}.\]We have $X = (\frac{-x+1}{2}, \frac{-x-1}{2}\sqrt{3})$. Let $\theta$ be the argument of $u$ and let $\phi_1$ be the argument of line $XI$. Let $\phi_2$ be the angle between $t_y$ and ray $XI$. In particular, $\phi_1 + \phi_2$ is the argument of $t_y$. It is clear that $\angle BCA = 180^{\circ} - \phi_1 - \phi_2 + \theta$. We wish to show that $\angle BCA \ge 90^{\circ}$; this is equivalent to showing that $\phi_1 + \phi_2 - \theta \le 90^{\circ}$, or \[ 90^{\circ} + \theta \ge \phi_1 + \phi_2. \]
Note that $\tan \theta = \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2 - 1}}$, so \[ \tan (90^{\circ} + \theta) = -\sqrt{x^2 - 1}.\]We have \[ \tan \phi_1 = \frac{(x+1)\sqrt{3}}{x-1}. \]Letting $d = XI$, we see that $\tan \phi_2 = \frac{1}{\sqrt{d^2 - 1}}$, so \[ \tan \phi_2 = \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+x}}. \]This yields \[ \tan (\phi_1 + \phi_2) = \frac{(x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x} + \frac{x-1}{\sqrt{x+1}}}{(x-1)\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{x+1}\sqrt{3}}. \]
I claim that the denominator $(x-1)\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{x+1}\sqrt{3}$ is always negative. This is equivalent to showing that $(x-1)^2x < 3(x+1)$ holds for all $x$ in our interval. Expanding, we get \[ f(x) =  x^3 - 2x^2 - 2x - 3 < 0. \]To prove this, we note that $f(1) = -6 < 0$. Furthermore, \[f'(x) = 3x^2 - 4x - 2 = 3(x-r_1)(x-r_2) \]where \[r_1 = \frac{2-\sqrt{10}}{3}, r_2 = \frac{2+\sqrt{10}}{3}. \]Note that $r_1 < 0$ and that $r_2 > \frac{5}{3} > \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}$, so $f'(x) < 0$ for $x$ in our interval. This means that \[f(x) < f(1) < 0 \]for $x$ in our interval.

Since $90^{\circ} + \theta, \phi_1 + \phi_2 $ are both in the interval $(90^{\circ}, 180^{\circ}]$, $90^{\circ} + \theta \ge \phi_1 + \phi_2$ is equivalent to \[ \tan (90^{\circ} + \theta) \ge \tan (\phi_1 + \phi_2). \]This in turn is equivalent to \[ -\sqrt{x^2 - 1} \ge \frac{(x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x} + \frac{x-1}{\sqrt{x+1}}}{(x-1)\sqrt{x} - \sqrt{x+1}\sqrt{3}}. \]This is equivalent to \[ \sqrt{x^2 - 1} \le \frac{(x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x} + \frac{x-1}{\sqrt{x+1}}}{-(x-1)\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{x+1}\sqrt{3}} \]and after clearing denominators, we get \[ (x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x-1} - (x-1)\sqrt{x}\sqrt{x^2-1} \le (x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x} + \frac{x-1}{\sqrt{x+1}}. \]This is true because $(x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x-1} - (x-1)\sqrt{x}\sqrt{x^2-1} \le (x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x-1} < (x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x} \le (x+1)\sqrt{3}\sqrt{x} + \frac{x-1}{\sqrt{x+1}}$. We have our desired contradiction.

Case 3. $\omega$ intersects both lines $XY, XZ$.

One of the tangents from $X$ to $\omega$ must be line $BC$; proceed as in the previous case. $\blacksquare$
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Ghoshadi
925 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
wrong solution... ignore
This post has been edited 7 times. Last edited by Ghoshadi, Dec 20, 2017, 5:21 PM
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tastymath75025
3223 posts
#9 • 4 Y
Y by Amir Hossein, BobaFett101, Adventure10, Mango247
Here's a very clean and mostly synthetic solution :)

By Miquel's Theorem, $(AYZ), (BZX), (CXY)$ meet at some point $P$. Clearly $\angle ABP + \angle ACP = \angle ZXP+\angle YXP = 60^{\circ}$ and similarly for the other vertices. This implies two things: Firstly, $\angle BPC = 180^{\circ} - \angle PBC-\angle PCB = 180^{\circ} - (180^{\circ} - \angle A -60^{\circ}) = 60^{\circ} + \angle A$ and similarly for $\angle CPA, \angle APB$, meaning that $P$ is fixed. Secondly, if $Q$ is the image of $P$ under $\sqrt{bc}$-inversion, then $Q$ lies on the opposite side of $BC$ as $A$ with $\triangle QBC$ equilateral.

We'll show $I$ is outside $\triangle AYZ$; similar arguments combined with the fact that $I$ lies inside $\triangle ABC$ will that $I$ is inside $\triangle XYZ$. By performing a $\sqrt{bc}$ inversion, $Y$ and $Z$ map to points $E,F$ on rays $AC,AB$ extended past $C,B$ with $E,Q,F$ collinear; instead of showing $I$ is outside $\triangle AYZ$, we're then left with showing the $A$-excenter $I_A$ is inside $(AEF)$ (because $I,I_A$ are inverses in $\sqrt{bc}$-inversion).

Consider any point $J$ on the internal angle bisector of $J$ and any points $U,V$ on $AB,AC$ with $AUJV$ cyclic. For any fixed $J$, I claim $AU+AV$ is always fixed; indeed, let $J_1,J_2$ be the projections of $J$ onto $AB,AC$. It then follows that $\triangle JJ_1U\cong \triangle JJ_2V$, so $J_1U=J_2V\implies AU+AV=AJ_1+AJ_2$. Furthermore, as $J$ moves towards $A$ along the angle bisector, this value of $AJ_1+AJ_2$ obviously decreases. When $J=I_A$, we have $AJ_1+AJ_2 = a+b+c$, so to prove that $I_A$ lies inside $(AEF)$, it's enough to show $AE+AF > a+b+c$ or $CE+BF>a$.

Now we're almost done. Let $\angle E=y, \angle F=z, \angle CQE=w, \angle BQF=x$. Since $E,F$ are not within segments $AC,AB$, we must have $0<w,x<120^{\circ}$. Then clearly $w+x=120^{\circ}$. Meanwhile, we have $w+y=\angle ACQ = \angle C+ 60^{\circ}$, so since $ABC$ is acute we have $60^{\circ} < w+y < 150^{\circ}$ and similarly for $x+z$. By the Law of Sines in $\triangle CEQ, \triangle BQF$, we get $CE= \frac{\sin w}{\sin y}CQ,BF=\frac{\sin x}{\sin z}BQ$. Conveniently we have $CQ=BQ=a$, so we just need to show $\frac{\sin w}{\sin y}+\frac{\sin x}{\sin z}>1$.

Case 1: $15^{\circ} \le w,x\le 105^{\circ}$. Then $\frac{\sin w}{\sin y}+\frac{\sin x}{\sin z} \ge \sin w + \sin x$. Since $\sin$ is concave on $[0,\pi]$ and $w+x$ is fixed, we have by Karamata that $\sin w +\sin x \ge \sin 15^{\circ} + \sin 105^{\circ} =\frac{\sqrt{6}}{2}>1$, so we're done.

Case 2: Suppose case 1 does not hold. WLOG $w<15^{\circ}, x>105^{\circ}$. Then $x+z<150^{\circ}$ yields $z<45^{\circ}$. Since $x<120^{\circ}$, we have $\frac{\sin w}{\sin y}+ \frac{\sin x}{\sin z} > \frac{\sin x}{\sin z}\ge \frac{\sin 120^{\circ}}{\sin 45^{\circ}}>1$, so once again we're done.
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MathStudent2002
934 posts
#10 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Proceed as above until we want to show that $CE+BF > a$. We will prove the more general result that if $BCQ$ is equilateral, and $\ell$ passes through $Q$ but not the interior of the triangle, and $E,F$ lie on $\ell$ so that $E,C$ and $B,F$ are on the same side of $BJ$, then $CE+BF > a$. Suppose $\angle BQC$ is $60$ measured counterclockwise (henceforth CCW). If the angle $\angle(CQ,\ell)$ measured CCW is greater than $90$ then $CE>a$ and we are done. Similarly if $\angle(\ell,QB)$ measured CCW is greater than $90$ then we are done.

Now we may assume that $E,F$ are the foot from $C,B$ to $\ell$. Letting $\alpha = \angle(CQ,\ell)$, and $\beta = \angle(\ell,QB)$ we want $\sin\alpha + \sin \beta > 1$ for acute $\alpha, \beta$ summing to $120$. But this is clear from $\sin\alpha+\sin\beta = 2\sin((\alpha+\beta)/2)\cos((\alpha-\beta)/2) = \sqrt 3 \cos((\alpha-\beta)/2) > 1.5 > 1$ since $|\alpha-\beta| < 30$, where all angle measures are in degrees.
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mathaddiction
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#11
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Lemma 1. If $0\leq a\leq b\leq 180^{\circ}$, let $I=[a,b]$ then
$$\underset{\theta\in I}{\min}\sin\theta=\min\{\sin a,\sin b\}$$Proof. Obvious. $\blacksquare$
Lemma 2. If $\triangle ZYX$ is an equilateral triangle and $A$ is a point lie inside $\angle ZXY$ but outside $\triangle ZYX$, with $\angle AZY>30^{\circ}$. Let $B_1$ be the projection of $X$ on $AZ$. Let $A_1$ be the intersection of the angle bisector of $\angle ZAY$ with $ZY$. Then
$$ZB_1A'<\frac{1}{2}\angle ZB_1X=45^{\circ}$$Proof.
Let $\omega$ be the circle with diameter $ZX$. Let $M,N$ be the intersection of the perpendicular bisector of $ZX$ and $\omega$, such that $M$ lies between $M$ and $N$.
[asy]
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[/asy]
CASE I: $\angle AZY<75^{\circ}$
Then $B_1$ lies in arc $ZN$ of $\omega$. We have
$$\angle ZB_1A'<\angle ZB_1Y<\angle ZB_1M=45^{\circ}$$[asy]
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[/asy]
CASE II: $\angle AZY\geq 75^{\circ}$.
Let $D$ be the projection of $M$ onto $ZY$. Then we have $$\frac{ZA'}{ZY}=\frac{\sin\angle AYZ}{\sin\angle AYZ+\sin\angle AZY}\leq \frac{1}{1+\sin 75^{\circ}}<\frac{\sin75^{\circ}}{\sqrt{2}}=\frac{ZD}{ZY}$$Therefore $ZA'<ZD$. From this, combine with the fact that $B_1$ lies in arc $NX$ of $\omega$, we have
$$\angle ZB_1A'<\angle ZB_1D<\angle ZB_1D=45^{\circ}$$$\blacksquare$
We will now show the equivalent problem.
CLAIM. Given a fixed point $A$ and an equilateral triangle $XYZ$ such that $A$ lies inside $\angle ZXY$ and that $A,Z$ lie on different side of $YZ$. Let $B$ be a point on $AZ$ beyond $Z$ and that $BX$ intersect $AY$ at $C$, where $Y$ lies between $A,C$. Furthermore, $\triangle ABC$ is acute. Then the incenter of $\triangle ABC$ doesn't lie in $\triangle AZY$.
Proof.
Let $A'$ be the intersection of the angle bisector of $\angle ZAY$ and $ZY$. Suppose on the contrary that the incenter $I$ of $\triangle ABC$ lies inside $AZY$, then it must lie in the segment $AA'$. Therefore,
$$\angle ABA'\geq \angle ABI=\frac{1}{2}\angle ABX$$Hence $\angle ABA'\geq \angle A'BX$. Since $\angle ABA'$ and $\angle ABX$ are both acute we have
$$\frac{\sin\angle ABA'}{\sin\angle A'BX}\geq 1 \quad(1)$$Now for any point $B$ on $AZ$ such that $ABC$ is well-defined and acute define the function
$$f(B)=\frac{\sin\angle ABA'}{\sin\angle A'BX}$$We will show that this function is strictly less than $1$, hence obtaining a contradiction with $(1)$.
Now, applying Ceva's theorem we have
$$f(B)=\frac{AA'}{\sin\angle BXA'}\frac{\sin\angle BAA'}{A'X}=\left(\frac{AA'}{\sin\angle ZAA'}\cdot{A'X}\right)\frac{1}{\sin\angle BXA'}$$Magically, the term in the bracket does not depend on $B$, so it is a constant. We now further distinguish two cases. Let $\angle BXA'=\theta$
[asy]
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[/asy]
CASE I: One of $\angle AZY,\angle AYZ$ is less than or equal to $30^{\circ}$.
WLOG assume $\angle AZY<30^{\circ}$, then $\angle AYZ>60^{\circ}$ since $A$ is acute. Let the projection from $X$ to $AY$ meet $AZ$, $AY$ at $B_1,C_1$ respectively. Now we have $\theta\in[\angle BZX,\angle BB_1X]$. Therefore, from Lemma 1 we have
$$f(B)\leq \max\{f(Z),f(B_1)\}$$However, we have $f(Z)=\frac{\sin\angle AZY}{\sin 60^{\circ}}<1$. Meanwhile, from Lemma 2, we have $\frac{\sin\angle ACA'}{\sin\angle B_1CA'}<1$, hence by Ceva's theorem
$$f(B_1)=\frac{\sin\angle AB_1A'}{\sin\angle C_1B_1A'}<1$$This shows that $f$ is strictly less than $1$.
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[/asy]
CASE II: Both $\angle AZY,\angle AYZ$ is at least $30^{\circ}$.
Suppose the perpendicular line from $X$ to $AZ$ intersect $AZ,AY$ at $B_1,C_1$, and the perpendicular line from $X$ to $AY$ intersect $AZ,AY$ at $B_2,C_2$. Notice that $B_1,B_2,C_1,C_2$ lies in the extension of either $AZ$ or $AY$. Now, similar to the above case we have
$$f(B)\leq \max\{f(B_1),f(B_2)\}$$Moreover, $$f(B_1)<1, f(C_2)<1$$by Lemma 2. Therefore, by Ceva's theorem we have
$$f(B_2)=\frac{\sin\angle AB_2A'}{\sin\angle C_2B_2A'}<1$$as well, this implies $f$ is strictly less than 1. $\blacksquare$

This contradiction completes the proof.

Motivational Remarks
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by mathaddiction, Nov 23, 2020, 11:54 AM
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Autistic_Turk
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#12
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Amir Hossein wrote:
The vertices $X, Y , Z$ of an equilateral triangle $XYZ$ lie respectively on the sides $BC, CA, AB$ of an acute-angled triangle $ABC.$ Prove that the incenter of triangle $ABC$ lies inside triangle $XYZ.$

Proposed by Nikolay Beluhov, Bulgaria

Prove by contradiction: notice incenter is either in triangle AZY or BZX or CYX without using generality of problem we could assume I is in the triangle AZY
Now we choose BZX our angel of freedom now define T as intersection of angle bisector of ABC and segment ZY now we could easily calculate ZT/ZX now we define Q as intersection of angle bisector of ACB and segment ZY now we could easily calculate QY/ZX therfore we could calculate QY+ZT/ZX and by bit of calculation we know QY+ZT/ZX>1 therfore I is in the Quadrilateral BZYC with is contradiction
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